Are you one of those guys who says to anyone who will listen, “I want a race car for the street, man!” Well, Ford has finally made your car. The Ford GT is perhaps the closest any carmaker ...

1. The Engine

A 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 churns out 647 hp at 6,250 rpm and 550 lb-ft of torque at 5,900 rpm, while a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission sends all those horses to the rear wheels. The engineering team created a special anti-lag turbo technology for this EcoBoost engine to help the car accelerate out of corners by keeping the throttle open when the driver is not stepping on the accelerator. The turbo and boost stay on, but the fuel injectors are off when this system is operating. This helps acceleration and engine response as soon as the driver gets back on the accelerator.

"We pushed the engine’s limits beyond what we might consider in traditional development programs, which is important as we continue to advance EcoBoost technology as a centerpiece of the company’s global lineup," said Bob Fascetti, Ford vice president, powertrain engineering.

The Ford GT was engineered to optimize its aerodynamic profile not just in a single set of conditions, but to respond to up-to-the-second demands at the track. This includes a patent-pending design that alters the shape of the airfoil to achieve maximum efficiency when used. A small Gurney flap is incorporated into this system, and, together with the Gurney flap, the shape-changing airfoil yields a 14 percent improvement in overall efficiency.

"GT’s aerodynamics change on demand to meet varying driving conditions, thanks to movable elements around the body, including special ducts in the front and a large deployable wing," Ford says. "The flaps open and close depending on whether GT’s wing is up or down, so the car remains aerodynamically balanced from front to back at all speeds. When the wing is up, the ducts close to increase downforce; when the wing is down, the ducts open to decrease downforce."

"This car was made for racetracks: Its smooth, even power delivery combines with absolutely flat cornering to encourage faster and faster laps," Vaughn wrote at the time. "Under stress, it sends no shudders or unforeseen misalignments to the driver, there is no wandering around under heavy braking (I’m looking at you, McLaren 650S!). Power delivery from the 3.5-liter V6 is a dream; there’s so much of it seemingly anywhere on the tach, you don’t worry at all about it. But you do want to shift just because the shifter is so smooth. Power eases off for a nanosecond between shifts without interrupting that even, smooth acceleration. There’s no hard slam back into the seats at shifts -- just easy, smooth power."

Vaughn also got a chance to drive it on city streets (which is where it will be driven from time to time) and he found it comfortable enough, before heading out of town to let the car stretch its legs, taking it north of 150 mph.

"We achieved considerable weight savings with the carbon-fiber architecture," said Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president of global product development and chief technical officer. "We then reinvested some of that savings into where it counts most: performance -- specifically, the active dynamics. The result is an even faster car."

The full spec sheet for the Ford GT is finally out, and the newest American supercar will have a top speed of 216 mph thanks to 647 hp at 6,250 rpm and 550 lb-ft of torque at 5,900 rpm. That’s ...

5. Usability

The new GT is not for sitting in a fast food drive-thru, but you can certainly take it there in between laps at the track. That's more than what the previous-generation Ford GT was built for -- that car was optimized solely for street use. Versions of it were certainly tracked once they were built to that spec, but it was not a track-going machine right out of the box -- that's the major difference between that decade-old model and the new one. All you have to do is to remember to get the GT out of track mode, which raises the suspension by 50 mm -- almost 2 inches -- to cope with the speed bumps in a mall parking lot. There's a front lift mode, as well, to permit the GT to enter gas stations.

"When we began work on the all-new Ford GT in 2013, the team had three goals,” said Nair. “The first was to use it as a training ground for our engineers as we develop future engine technology and stretch our understanding of aerodynamics. Then, to push the boundaries of advanced material usage, such as lightweight carbon fiber. Finally, we set out to win the Le Mans 24 Hours, referred to by many as the ultimate test of endurance and efficiency."

A new car, a new team, a new set of challenges, a familiar goal and a chance to celebrate a special 50th anniversary brought the Ford GT back to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.And on Father’s ...

6. The 24 Hours of Le Mans

The Ford GT won its class at Le Mans, effectively achieving the goal for which it was created, and in time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the overall victory of the original GT40 Mk II. With Joey Hand, Dirk Mueller and Sébastien Bourdais behind the wheel (but not at the same time) of the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Team USA car No. 68, the GT came in 1 minute, 0.2 second ahead of the second-place finisher in the LMGTE class, a Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTE. A second Ford GT piloted by Scott Dixon, Richard Westbrook and Ryan Briscoe took third place.

"This was a big win for all of us and most of our friends and partners at Ford,” Chip Ganassi said at the time. "To win is huge for us, but to do it on the 50th anniversary of the first Ford GT win makes it extra-special.”

Ford didn’t see it coming, but a report from The Detroit News claims John Cena flipped his GT just weeks after releasing a video on YouTube detailing his excitement upon receiving the ...

7. Can I Buy One?

That depends. If you've gone through the rigorous, Ivy League-style application process and have been accepted, then Ford has already told you you're one of the chosen few, and in that case you've already paid the $450,000, plus shipping and handling. (Congratulations on your acceptance, by the way.) And if, in fact, Ford has told you that you're one of the chosen few who can buy one, they've probably also told you that you can't sell one. Welcome to the world of contractual restrictions instituted to prevent straw-buyer wheeling and dealing.

Since the "street price" for a Ford GT is arguably higher than the delivery price, Ford knew some owners might be tempted to flip the GT to some unapproved buyer who'd be willing to pay a little extra to get their oily hands on one. But that restriction only lasts 24 months, after which time a few cars could hit The eBays. Start saving now.

Jay Ramey
- Jay Ramey is an Associate Editor with Autoweek, and has been with the magazine since 2013. Jay also likes to kayak and bike.